Interview with Danny from the Miami Herald

Here is an interview with Danny from the Miami Herald

Kids, they've been around the Block

It's been 14 years since New Kids on the Block toured together, so obviously, the boy band isn't made up of boys anymore. But Saturday night at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, the guys -- brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood -- will try to prove they've still got the pipes and dance moves that made the girls squeal in the late '80s and '90s.

Wood talked to us about the reunion tour, why he moved from Boston to Miami and the loss of his mother to breast cancer in 1999.

Did it take long to get back into shape?

``I've always been in shape, so it didn't take me any time. For some of the guys, it took a little bit . . . It took us about a week to get acclimated, but once we got rolling, everyone just fell right back into place.''

What can we expect from your show?

``It's high-energy; we're dancing for almost two hours. There'll be surprises for people who haven't seen the show yet -- a lot of people have been going to multiple shows, so we've been changing it up a little bit. And we've been getting good reviews, so that's a bit different for us this time around.''

Does the term 'boy band' bother you?

``It wasn't used when we were around, because we were the only ones. That phrase came after us, so for us it's not an issue.''

Your lost your mother to breast cancer and still are working to push your rememberbetty.org website, listing it on your new album. What has this ordeal taught you?

''The main thing I've learned is that when someone passes away, the relationship doesn't die with the person. It's still emotional, especially [touring] again. Some of the last memories I have of my mom -- I was there when she died -- are some of the most beautiful memories for me now, when they used to be the most painful memories. It's a big deal for me to keep her memory alive for my daughters,'' ages 9 and 10.

You've lived in South Florida 11 years now.

``You never can take the Boston out of a Boston-raised kid. I really do not like the cold, and there's no better place to be. I live on 69th and Biscayne, and I've lived on Alton Road and the Grove.''

What's your favorite thing about it?

``I'll do things like on Christmas Day I'll be at the beach, and I'll take a picture and send it to all my friends who are freezing their a---- off in Boston or New York.''

Any places you could recommend?

``I'm not a big club dude -- I've been to all the clubs, and the names change so much. Is it still called Mansion? I'm a family man, so I go out once in a while. Restaurants? Soyka is one of my favorites. It's in my neighborhood, so I can take my kids there. And Sushi Siam. I'm not big on all the Prime 112 places, the showy places.''

You've produced tracks for Donnie's brother Mark. Both of you are pretty ripped. Think you could take him?

``I don't know. Mark's pretty tough. With any of the Wahlbergs it would be a tough one. One of the other brothers, Jim, lives in Pembroke Pines, and he's a good friend of mine. They're all tough. Their name was notorious in Boston growing up. It'd be a good fight. I couldn't say I'd take him, but I'm not gonna say he couldn't take me, too.''

-- MICHAEL HAMERSLY